Worcester Democrat And The Ledger Enterprise

VERA
"THURSDAY'S CHILD"
by BROWN

FROM THE OLD RHYME: "THURSDAY'S CHILD HAS FAR TO GO"

to her was just work and arguments. Jamie danced with Sonny the next with Richardson. She never had any time, while Tom nodded encouragement to her from the edge of the floor. More and more Sonny realized that Tom was a decidedly personable chap; bronzed and tall with nice blue eyes. She did not know that Tom's flannels came from the best New York custom shop, just that his tweed jacket was from Bond Street. Even if she did, it would have meant nothing to her.

Then, one day, Tom Hollister and Jamie Hicks, two young college students, drive up in an expensive trailer. Tom is attracted to Sonny and asks her to go dancing. When she tells him she doesn't know how to dance, he drops a coin in the phonograph and proceeds to teach her. Then Richardson appears on the scene and orders the boys out. That was the last straw for Sonny. She decides to run away. So, that night, when Tom calls to apologize for getting her in trouble and asks her to meet him, she agrees, planning to use the boys in her scheme to escape. She slips out of the house and runs down the road to their waiting car.

CHAPTER 2
"Let's get going," Jamie urged, for some of Sonny's panic had communicated itself to him.
"OK, we're on our way," Tom said, as the big car shot down the highway. "We're going to a place outside of Toledo. It's a good dance spot-on the lake."
"But I'm a mess, my dress and stockings are torn!"
"Take off your stockings. Half the girls won't be wearing them anyway," said the efficient Tom. "What do you care? You'll be prettier than most anyway."

They rode in silence and the cool air calmed the girl. "Now tell me about yourself," Tom said finally.
"There's nothing to tell."
"Why does your old man act like that?" he asked, in another effort to draw her out.
"He's not really my father. He brought me up." She did not add that he had been in love with her mother, and that her mother had run away to marry another man.
"We'll forget all about it," Tom said gallantly.

In 15 minutes they drew up alongside the lake shore dancing place. The strains of good band music floated out into the June night. Sonny's heart jumped. All her life she'd wanted to have fun. All her life she'd wanted this-what other girls had. Now she was going to have it!

Then they were in the big dimly-lighted pavilion, and Sonny was suddenly afraid of the crowds, the pretty girls. Her dress was in a state, and her hose were beyond repair. Tom grinned at her encouragingly as he left her at the dressing-room door. He put a quarter in her hand. "Give that to the matron. She'll help you sew up your dress."

When the matron ran her practiced eye over Sonny's untidy dress, the girl's poise was completely shaken. She sat down, took off her hose.
"Well, girlie, you must have had a time for yourself," remarked a pretty blonde who was combing her hair.

Sonny did not answer. She stood up to look at her dress. It was pink organdy. The big three-cornered tear seemed hopeless, but the matron was helpful.
"I can pin it over, then it won't show. The lights aren't very bright out on the floor."

The matron wondered about this red-headed girl who had come in such disarray. Young people today. She was glad she didn't have a daughter.

Sonny fixed her hair, powdered her nose. She had no lipstick, but the matron offered her some and Sonny liked the look of the splash of scarlet on her lips.

In 10 minutes she joined Tom and Jamie.
"You look fine," said Tom. "Come on, Lesson No. 2. We're on our way."

On the floor it didn't go so well at first, but Sonny tried hard. Tom kept encouraging her and before the dance was finished, Sonny was a little more at ease. They joined Jamie then, and the trio went to have some lemonade out on the veranda.

Tom grinned at Sonny across the table. "Now, Lesson No. 3. You won't mind what I say?"
Sonny promised.
"Then it is this. Redheads should never wear pink."

Sonny's cheeks blazed. Tom put his hand over hers: "You said you wanted to learn. Just remember that. You're the kind of girl who must dress for her hair. White or green. Never pink." He winked at her. "That's what we learn at Princeton."

He went on: "Don't let it make you uncomfortable. But just file that away."

Richardson had brought the dress home to Sonny, on one of his rare

All in all they had a gay evening. Jamie was amusing and they all laughed a great deal. Some of Sonny's breathless excitement communicated itself to the boys. It was impossible not to have a good time watching her complete wonderment at everything.

But at last it was over.
"Did you really have such a good time?" Tom asked incredulously. She was so naive, he wondered if it could be an act. He didn't suppose there were any girls like that left in this world.
"It was wonderful! I have never been so happy in my life."

The three rode back to Toledo, and Tom said they must have breakfast. It was only one o'clock. So they stopped for bacon and eggs in an all-night restaurant and got further acquainted.

As the meal drew to a close, Sonny dreaded the moment when she was to announce she wouldn't go back home-ever.
"Tired?" Tom asked, watching her shadowy, grey-green eyes.

Sonny shook her head.
"I suppose we ought to be getting you back. Sure you can get in without the old man catching you!"
"No."

Tom looked startled. "What do you mean?"
"Keep still! You've got to go home Sonny," Tom insisted.

She only shook her head.
"I brought along what few clothes I have. They're in that package in the car."

That left them speechless for a moment. Then they argued for a long time.
"You don't understand. I hate my life and I hate him! I'd rather be dead than go back!"

Jamie shrugged his shoulders: "Well, it's a pretty good record. We've been away two days and this is the first time you, Tom, have got into trouble."
"Shut up, this is serious," Tom retorted.

He leaned across the table. "Sonny, look at me. Are you sure you didn't plan this because you know who I am?"

The girl wanted to ask who he was but refrained. She knew he was really worried.
"Is this a hold-up?" Tom persisted. He eyed her with sudden distrust, mingled with admiration. She'd heard that telephone call home. It was very neat, this. But her candid eyes were so frank, he couldn't believe it.

He made another try, "It amounts to this. My family have a lot of money-"
But he stopped suddenly, ashamed under her widening eyes.
"I just have to get away," she pleaded. "I want nothing, Tom, but your help. I've got to have it, I'm desperate. I can work—"

He made a grimace: "In another restaurant, I suppose."
"Yes, I want to earn money so I can go to business college, I want a different kind of life. Always I've dreamed that some day things would be different for me. If I hadn't believed that, I couldn't have lived. I'm going now, Tom, no matter what."
"Even if you put me on a spot?"
"I won't."
"But your old man will."

Sonny was desperate now. They had to help her.
"Tom, I hate him with all my heart, but he is honest, whatever else he is."

Tom shook his head, remarking, "You don't understand. If there is publicity, well, my family will suffer. I've got into a lot of scrapes- just naturally gravitate toward trouble. But this is dynamite!"

He touched Sonny's hand, which lay clenched on the table. "I want to help you. I think you're swell. Go back tonight. I promise I'll see you get a break. You can trust me. Only for my sake, go back home now."

The girl's head dropped. "I knew it was too good to be true. I'll go back."

Her face was white. In the morning, Richardson would punish her for the dance episode. If he ever found out she had tried to run away, he'd do something terrible. And the boys would forget. They'd go on their way and she'd be left behind—for always.

In silence they went out to Tom's car. It was a beautiful night, but Sonny no longer saw it. She sat in quiet despair as Tom sped back up the Dixie toward Richardson's lunchroom. They stopped a short distance from it.
"There!" Tom said. "Now you go on like a good girl." He gave Sonny's slim shoulders a little hug. "I won't desert you young lady. I'll see you go to business college, I swear. Just get back before your old man finds out you're gone. Tomorrow, before we go, I'll give you some money. Then you can beat it when you get a chance."

The girl could not find her voice to speak.
"Get going. We'll wait here to be sure you get in. Get something white and signal when you're inside."

Sonny was shivering. Her father would see the broken netting over her window in the morning. He'd know.
"You promised. Chin up and I'll see you get a job in New York when you finish school."
"I can't," she said, hopelessly.

There was nothing to do but go. She went away from them into the darkness. They could see her blurred figure going across the fields, for the late moon had risen. She must have reached the house. They strained their eyes. There was no signal.

Suddenly Jamie spoke: "She's coming back!" No doubt about it. Sonny was running toward them.

Tom held out his arms to her as she came to them, gasping for breath.
"The window's locked, he's found out. What shall I do?"

Sonny was trembling with terror. In a rush the three were in the car. They were moving fast back toward Toledo.
"I'm sorry I got you into this," she managed. "What shall we do?"

Tom answered, his jaw set: "We'll think of something. In the meantime, we better get the trailer and scram. If the old man knows she's gone, he may have the state police on us, and we'd be easy to pick up."

Jamie groaned: "Think of what your mother will say when this breaks in the papers."
"I admit it will look bad."

Jamie suddenly laughed: "It will be nice spending your 21st birthday in jail!"
"You think of the nicest things!" Tom retorted.

They picked up their trailer at the camp and shortly were on their way again.